Mindanao anti-terror group renews commitment to peace

 
By Eldie Aguirre, Jeoffrey Maitem
Mindanao Bureau
Last updated 05:07pm (Mla time) 08/29/2007
 
DIGOS CITY, Philippines — A group of civilians, which has been helping authorities in Southern Mindanao against terror and criminality, renewed its commitment to peace in the region.
During the group’s fourth founding anniversary held in Padada, Davao del Sur, on Sunday, Maamor Yunas, Spotters provincial [...]

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‘Secret’ peace talks held in Kuala Lumpur–MILF exec, RP asks foreign truce monitors to stay on

By Edwin Fernandez, Jeoffrey Maitem
Inquirer, Agence France-Presse
Last updated 03:43pm (Mla time) 08/28/2007
 
COTABATO CITY, Philippines — (UPDATE) Government and secessionist rebel negotiators have sought an extended mandate for the Malaysian-led International Monitoring Team (IMT) and “lightly discussed” the issue of ancestral domain during a secret meeting in Kuala Lumpur on Monday.
Ghadzali Jaafar, political affairs chief of [...]

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US troops to fix Mindanao road

 
By Jeoffrey Maitem, Richel Umel
Mindanao Bureau
Last updated 05:16pm (Mla time) 08/24/2007
 
KORONADAL CITY — American soldiers participating in the annual Philippine-US military exercise will rehabilitate the bumpy highway that connects Maitum in Sarangani province and Palimbang town in Sultan Kudarat as part of their humanitarian mission, Palimbang Mayor Samrod Mamansual has told the Philippine Daily Inquirer.
The [...]

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‘By, Aylabyu,’ fallen lieutenant texted girlfriend, Don’t get hit in face, she said

By Arlyn dela Cruz, Jeoffrey Maitem, Tarra Quismundo
Inquirer
Last updated 04:28am (Mla time) 08/24/2007
 
MANILA, Philippines — “By, Aylabyu.”
In the playful, mushy lingo of young lovers, this “text” message from 2nd Lt. Ludwig Salvador reached his girlfriend’s mobile phone at 8:55 p.m. of Aug. 17.
The next day, it proved to be the officer’s final farewell: Salvador and [...]

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South Cotabato town grieves over loss of soldier in Basilan

 
By Jeoffrey Maitem
Mindanao Bureau
Last updated 04:42pm (Mla time) 08/23/2007
 
STO. NIÑO, South Cotabato — Hundreds of residents lighted candles on Wednesday night as they patiently waited along the highway here to see the motorcade for 1st Lieutenant Erwin Soloren, the Marine officer who was killed last week in a clash with al Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf militants [...]

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Being a soldier was Soloren’s dream

By Jeoffrey Maitem
Inquirer
Last updated 04:25am (Mla time) 08/19/2007
KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato — He liked to play at military drills when he was a young boy and would tell his parents and relatives he would one day become a soldier.
“He wanted to become a soldier. That was his dream,” Ricarte Domingo said of his relative Ermin [...]

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Military claims foiling bombing attempt

 
By Jeoffrey Maitem
Inquirer
Last updated 02:30pm (Mla time) 08/18/2007
 
KORONADAL CITY–Government security forces foiled what could have been another bloody attack in Tacurong City in Sultan Kudarat when they arrested a suspect linked to the Jemaah Islamiyah on Friday, military authorities said Saturday.
The arrest of suspect Badrudin Guilison, who yielded three 60-millimeter mortar shells when frisked, came [...]

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Extortion gang demands P2.5M from Dutch farmer

 
By Jeoffrey Maitem
Mindanao Bureau
Last updated 02:35pm (Mla time) 08/17/2007
 
KORONADAL CITY, Philippines — After destroying several buses and failing to extort money from the Yellow Bus Lines Co. (YBL), a gang linked to the Jemaah Islamiyah, a Southeast Asian terrorist network, is now targeting a Dutch citizen living in Polomolok, South Cotabato to raise cash, a [...]

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ARMM investments up 82% in 1st half

 
By Jeoffrey Maitem, Edwin Fernandez
Mindanao Bureau
Last updated 09:42pm (Mla time) 08/05/2007
 
COTABATO CITY–Undeterred by the violence that is seen to wrack the region, investors continue to sink in vital funds in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, with investments rising by about 82 percent from January to June compared to the same period last year.
Ishak Mastura, [...]

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Mindanao bus employee abducted after blasts

 
By Jeoffrey Maitem
Mindanao Bureau
Last updated 03:30pm (Mla time) 08/12/2007
 
KORONADAL CITY – Armed men abducted on Saturday night an employee of the Yellow Bus Line (YBL) here just as the premier bus firm in the region resumed its operations after tightening security in response to the bombing of their buses.
Jaime Rosios, one of the company’s mechanics [...]

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